Planning a trip to Munich with teens in tow? You’re in for a treat. Munich is a great city to explore as a family, and it has plenty to offer visitors of all ages. Whether your teen is into history, technology, cars, sports, or just eating great food and seeing some cool stuff, they’re virtually guaranteed to have a good time here - as will the rest of the family.
Not sure what to do when you’re in Munich with teens? Here are a few ideas that the whole family can enjoy:
CHECK OUT THE HOFBRAUHAUS
Even if your teen is too young to enjoy a beer, you’ll all enjoy the experience of visiting the legendary Hofbrauhaus, home of the world-famous Oktoberfest celebration. This beer hall and restaurant serves up tasty Bavarian-inspired dishes, like sausages, pork knuckles, goulash, alongside traditional sides like kraut, spaetzle, and cabbage salad.
The atmosphere is always one of revelry and celebration, and it’s hard to have a bad time here, even if you aren’t indulging in the local brew. Thanks to the communal-style seating, there’s a good chance you’ll leave with more than just full stomachs - you might make a few new friends, too!
VISIT THE BMW MUSEUM
If you love cars, you’ll thoroughly appreciate the BMW Museum - and even if you don’t, you’re still going to have a great time. Situated near the Olympiapark, the building’s massive cylindrical exterior makes it hard to miss.
While you’re there, you’ll get to learn all about BMW’s history as a company and automaker. As one of the world’s premier car designers, they have a lot to highlight, from earlier models and prototypes to ultra-modern vehicles and glimpses into the future of cars and driving. Permanent exhibitions focus on BMW’s technology, their brand, their motorcycle division, and their trademark design. You can choose to take a guided tour, led in English and German, or you’re welcome to explore the museum at your own pace.
TOUR THE ALLIANZ ARENA - AND CATCH AN FC BAYERN MUNICH GAME
If you know anything about European culture, you know that football - what we Americans call soccer - reigns supreme. Many cities host a team, and locals choose one or two to follow religiously.
Even if you don’t love soccer as much as the residents of Munich, you and your family will still have a ton of fun visiting the Allianz Arena. The local favorite team, FC Bayern Munich calls this stadium home, and it’s designed to be a true attraction - not just a place to watch a football game.
You can sign up for a behind-the-scenes tour of the stadium that will take you into the players’ locker room, the press conference area, and other parts of the arena not typically accessible by guests. You can also check out a couple of different exhibitious you can tour to learn more about the FC Bayern Munich franchise.
Of course, the most exciting thing you could do while you’re there? Catch a game in person! The electricity that fills the stadium, brought on by thousands of screaming fans, is truly unmatched and is definitely something to experience firsthand. You’ll definitely want to secure a ticket in advance, so check the schedule and see if any games align with your trip!
EXPLORE THE OLYMPIAPARK
Munich hosted the Summer Olympics back in 1972, and as part of the infrastructure built to support the Games, they constructed the Olympiapark. After the Olympics concluded, Munich faced the same challenge that other host cities struggle with - what to do with these new stadiums, halls, and parks?
While many cities ultimately let the infrastructure crumble and go unused, Munich converted the Olympiapark into a popular public attraction. You’ll find a zipline, ice skating rink, mini-golf course, and public pool, as well as its own aquarium. There’s a guided roof climb tour, which will give you great views of the park and the surrounding skyline. During the warmer months, you’ll see families boating on the lake and picnicking on the grassy lawns. A popular location for sporting events, concerts, and other productions, Olympiapark is still an important hub for Munich - and a great spot to check out when you’re in the city.
One can’t-miss attraction? The Olympic Tower. The tower is Munich’s tallest building, and you can admire the views of the city and surrounding area from the tower’s viewing platform at over 600 feet high. Reserve a table at the tower’s revolving restaurant for an unforgettable dinner in the sky, or just take a trip up to the top to appreciate the view (as long as you aren’t afraid of heights!).
EXPLORE THE DEUTSCHE MUSEUM
Germany has always been a leader in industry and innovation, so it’s no surprise to find Munich is home to a spectacular science and technology museum. It’s actually the world’s largest museum on the subject, making it a playground for people of all ages who are fascinated by the way the world works. And while many science-oriented museums do a great job of catering to young kids or adults, the Deutsche Museum has plenty to keep teens entertained and engaged.
The museum hosts permanent exhibits on virtually every facet of science and technology you can imagine. You’ll find exhibits dedicated to computers, ceramics, mining, music, physics, machine components, transportation, and so much more. It may not sound exciting, but they’ve done an excellent job of finding interactive, interesting, and fun ways to demonstrate complicated concepts.
You probably won’t have enough time to experience the whole museum in a single visit, so it’s smart to plan ahead and prioritize the exhibits you’re most interested in seeing.
There are no shortage of ways to spend your time in Munich, especially if you’re only in town for a few days. If you’re visiting with teens, these are some of the best things you can do to have fun and experience the city together. Add a few of these items into your itinerary to keep them - and as a result, the rest of the family - happy.
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